Caldecott Medal Picture Book

1. Bibliographic Data
Wiesner, David. Flotsam. New York: Clarion Books, 2006.

2.Plot Summary
Flotsam is about a young boy who goes to the beach with his family. He discovers a camera that has washed to shore, and decides to develop the film inside. The film inside the camera holds a picture of a child holding another child's picture, that child holding another child's picture, and so on. He finds the picture of the very first child when he zooms in on each picture. The boy decides to carry on the tradition, and takes a picture of him holding the picture of the person who had the camera before him. He throws the camera back out to see for more children to find and enjoy it.

3. Critical Analysis
David Wiesner created a wonderful book full of pictures. There is no text in this picture book, which invites children to use their imaginations. The boy in the story seems to be a loner, but it is exciting to follow him on his journey to discovering who was the first child to use this camera. The book is a child's version of message in a bottle. This camera has traveled across the world to very different children and culture, which introduces children to diversity. While they are all different, they all have the camera in common. The illustrations are full of color and large in size, which makes it easy for children to see and come up with their own story.

4. Awards and Review Excerpt(s):
*Caldecott Medal
*New York Times..."Wiesner’s detailed watercolors make the absurd wonderfully believable, his graphic storytelling sense is sure and swift, and children will surely love “Flotsam” from start to finish."

5. Connections
*A good connection to make with Flotsam is to read and introduce other David Wiesner books to children. He has won the Caldecott Medal for his other picture books.
*The New York TImes suggested incorporating other books about sea life (Dear Fish by Chris Gall, Sea Horse by Chris Butterworth).

Small, David. "Fish in Focus - Books - Review - New York Times." The New York Times . http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/books/review/Small.t.html?_r=1&ref=bookreviews (accessed September 15, 2010).